Yesterday’s practice was his first of the preseason after a bacterial infection left him bedridden in Saratoga Springs. Curry said he may not be ready to play in the Knicks’ preaseason opener tomorrow night, but he expects to be the starting center once the games count.

“Until told otherwise, yeah, I do,” said Curry, who was left winded and worn out yesterday. “I’m not out here playing to come off the bench. I’m planning to start.

“But if that’s where [Mike D’Antoni] sees me playing, that’s what happens. But as of now, I’m not playing to come off the bench.”

Curry is competing with David Lee and Zach Randolph for one of two starting interior spots. Though the 6-foot-11, 285-pounder insists he can thrive in D’Antoni’s offense – which he likened to an open gym – he has a long conditioning hill to climb.

“Obviously it’s going to be a while before he gets his wind, but just to get him going is a plus,” said D’Antoni, who didn’t expect Curry to play much tomorrow in Toronto. “He looked pretty good. We’ll see how he goes from here, but he hung in there and did everything everybody else did.

Added D’Antoni: “He’ll probably come off the bench and start getting his legs under him.”